minority

American  

[mahy-nawr-i-tee, -nor, mi-] / maɪˈnɔr ɪ ti, -ˈnɒr, mɪ- /

noun

plural

minorities

1. the smaller part or number; a number, part, or amount forming less than half of the whole.

2. a smaller party or group opposed to a majority, as in voting or other action.

3. a group in society distinguished from, and less dominant than, the more numerous majority.

   The ethnic minority was disproportionately affected by the reduction in preventative medical services.

4. a racial, ethnic, religious, or social subdivision of a society that is subordinated in political, financial, or social power by the dominant group, without regard to the size of these groups.

   legislation aimed at providing equal rights for minorities.

5. a member of such a group.

6. the state or period of being under the legal age of full responsibility.

   Synonyms:

   girlhood, boyhood, childhood

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adjective

1. of or relating to a minority.

minority British  

/ mɪ-, maɪˈnɒrɪtɪ /

noun

1. the smaller in number of two parts, factions, or groups

2. a group that is different racially, politically, etc, from a larger group of which it is a part

3. 1. the state of being a minor

   2. the period during which a person is below legal age Compare majority

4. (modifier) relating to or being a minority

   a minority interest

   a minority opinion

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Other Word Forms

• nonminority adjective
• prominority adjective

Etymology

Origin of minority

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English, from Middle French minorité, from Medieval Latin minōritāt-, stem of minōritās; minor, -ity

Explanation

If you have eight pennies and twelve dimes, the minority — or smaller portion — of your coins are pennies. If you're left-handed, you are in the minority, because most people are right-handed. That means that right-handed people are the majority (the opposite of minority). Minority is typically used to refer to the smaller of two numbers being compared or to a group of people that is not predominant in a particular country or population. Less commonly, it refers to the time period before someone is of legal age.

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, the Saavedra family still has a minority stake in the company and will continue to help manage it.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

Shia Muslims, primarily from the Hazara ethnic group, are a minority in Afghanistan they have been targeted in the past.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Its first investment out of its debut fund involved a minority stake in KKR’s 2021 buyout of early childhood education company Teaching Strategies from Summit Partners.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

He’s now in the extreme minority among Wall Street analysts: Just three of the 53 sell-siders tracked by FactSet have neutral-equivalent ratings on Broadcom’s stock, while the rest all have bullish stances.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

He often reminded people that he was just a low-ranking member of the minority party, a backbench player if there ever was one.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• opposition